Machine for operating on sheet metal



May ,2,1, 1940. c. NL YoDER 2,201,214

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHEET METAL Filed April l0, 193'? 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill l M a 111` l INVENTDR A# (La fe om ATTORNEY` Iba HCARL. MYUDER.

May 21, 1940. c. M, YoDER MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N SHEET METAL FiledApril 10, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EARL M YDDBH.

L my@ ATTORNEY May 2l, 1940. c. M. YoDER 2,201,214

MACHINE FOR OPERATING` ON SHEET METAL Filed April 10. 1937 4She`ets-Sheet 5 ATTDHNEY.

May 21, 1940. C, M, DER 2,201,214

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHEET METAL Filed April l0, 1937 1 4Sheets-Sheet 4 1 41S 2b I H I EARL M Y DDEE. 3y vm ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Carl M. Yoder,Lakewood, Ohio Application April 10, 1937, Serial No. 136,176

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine or apparatus for treating either orboth edges of sheet metal, more particularly such edges resulting from acutter, saw or other tool. The apparatus is adapted to operate on asheet metal web or webs fed from coils thereof or to be associated witha machine which rst cuts the sheet metal as it is delivered from a coilinto strips or webs.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of thischaracter capable of operating simultaneously on a plurality of sheets,webs or strips of. sheet metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus ofthis character having edge engaging members each formed with a pluralityof edging elements and capable of adjustment to position one of theedging elements in operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus ofthis character having a plurality of edge engaging members arranged tooperate on the opposite edges of sheet metal or on one or both edges of,a plurality of strips or webs of sheet metal and mounted on supports anyone of which may be adjusted or any two or more of which may besimultaneously adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus ofthis character which is relatively simple in construction and capable ofadaptation to sheet metal strips or webs of any predetermined width in aready manner.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of, an apparatus embodying my invention.

Figrz is a plan` view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on they lin 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, slightly enlarged with parts brokenaway.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, ofFig. 3.

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary section on the line 'l-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, I indicates a base frame supporting spaced pairs of.standards 2, 3, in each ofl which are mounted suitable bearing boxes 4.I'he boxes 4 support front and rear pairs of feed rolls 5, 6, forfeeding a plurality of sheet metal strips or webs A; the apparatusherein shown being adapted to operate on two strips or webs.Corresponding ends of the feed roll shafts are connected throughuniversal joints 'l to the adjacent ends of. shafts 8, the opposite endsof which 6 are connected through universal joints 9 to shafts I0. Theshafts I0 are drivingly connected to suitable gearing in casings II. Thegearing in turn is driven by a main shaft I2 having a sprocket I3,driven by chains I4 engaging a 10 sprocket I5, the latter being fixed tothe shaft of a motor I6. I6a indicates a suitable pump for supplying asuitable lubricant to the edge engaging members (later referred to); butillustration of such supply is omitted to facilitate the 15 illustrationof the apparatus.

I1 indicates a feed table disposed at the frontV end of the base frameI, the table being connected thereto at its inner end and supported atits outer end of a leg I8. The table comprises a 20 plate I9 on whichare boltedl pairs of parallel guides 2U extending longitudinally of theplate I9 and arranged to engage the opposite edges of the webs A. Theplate I9 is formed with transverse slots 2I to receive the reduced endsof nuts 25 22, into which the bolts are threaded, the slots 2| and nuts22 and the bolts therefor permitting transverse and relative adjustmentof the guides 20 for guiding webs of diierent widths. By preference, Iprovide pairs of guide rolls 23 at the 30 inner ends of the guides 29,each roll 23 being, loosely mounted on a bushing 24 fixed to the plateI9 by a bolt 25. The head of the bolt 25 has a reduced portion to fltinto the adjacent slot 2| (see Fig. 3), to provide for the adjustment ofthe 35 roll transversely of the plate I9. The table I1 is shown ashaving web supporting strips 26, each arranged between a pair of guides20 and parallel thereto,and serving to support the intermediate portionof the adjacent web A. The supporting 4.0 strips 26 are adjustablyflxed'to the plate I9 in a manner similar to the guides 20, except thatcounter-sunk screws are used instead of bolts.

21 indicates as an entirety a frame supported between the pairs of feedrolls 5, 6, on bridge 45 bars 28, suitably bolted to the standards 2, 3.

` The frame 21 comprises end members 29 suitably bolted to the bridgebars 28 (see Fig. 5), a forward transverse bar 30 secured at itsopposite ends by bolts 3l to the end members 29 and 50 rearwardtransverse upper and lower spaced bars 32, 32a, suitably secured to theend members 29 by bolts 33. The bars 32, 32a, are provided on theirremote upper and lower ends with plates 35, which are preferably weldedthereto. 56

The plates 35 over-hang inwardly the bars 32, 32a, and co-operatetherewith to form a support and guide for the rear ends of a pluralityof supporting devices 36, the front ends ofthe latter being supportedand guided by the forward transverse bar 30, as well as connectedthereto, as later set forth. Each supporting device 36 rotatablysupports an edge engaging member 31 as later set forth. Each supportingdevice 36 is xed to the bar 32 by agbolt 38, which extends through anelongated slot 39 formed in the bar 32 to permit transverse adjustmentof the supporting device 36 by an adjusting means indicated as anentirety at 46, as later set forth, upon loosening of the bolt 36. Atits front end, each supporting device 36 is formed with a transverserecess or opening 4|, the side and bottom walls of which slidably engagethe bar 30. Between the bar 30 and upper wall 42 of the recess, Iprovide an interlock to rigidly secure the front end of the device inposition, following any transverse adjustment thereof. For this purposethe upper face of the bar 30 is provided substantially from end to endthereof with teeth 43, arranged transversely of the bar, and between thewall 42 and bar 30 I pro- -vide a block 44 having complementary teeth,the

block 44 being clamped to the bar 30 by one or more screws 45, wherebythe supporting device is locked to the bar and supported thereby at itsfront end. The block 44 is adjustably connected to the wall 42, foradjustment transversely of the supporting device 36, so that followingany adjustment of the latter in the frame 21, as hereinafter set forth,should the teeth of the block 44 not be in registry with the teeth 43 onthe bar 3l), the block may be moved transversely A in either directionto bring its teeth in registry with the teeth 43. The adjustableconnection between the wall 42 and block 44 consists of a rod 46threaded at its inner end into the wall 42 and provided outwardly of thethreaded portion with spaced collars 41 which engage the opposite endsof up-standing lugs 48 provided on the adjacent end of the block 44 toprevent endwise movement of the rod, the lugs permitting the block 44 tobe raised out of engagement with the teeth 43. The inner face oftheblock is formed with recesses 49 in which are mounted disks adapted toengage the teeth 43. Between the disks and inner walls of the recessesare mounted coiled springs 50 which are compressed when the screws45-are tightened `to lock the block 44 to the bar 30. Accordingly, whenthe device 36 is to be adjusted in the frame 21 the screws 45 are backedup, which permits the block 44 to be raised or lifted by the springs5I), following which upon loosening of the bolts 38 the adjustment ofthe device may be effected and the rodv46 may be rotated in eitherdirection to adjust the block 44, whereby its teeth will register withthe teeth 43 upon tightening of the screws 45.

The body portion of each supporting device is formed with an opening 5|and the adjacent edge engaging member 31 is removably mounted in upperand lower bearings in the body portion, that is, the upper and lowerwalls of the opening 5|, so as to extend therethrough, whereby itsedging element may engage the edge of the web A as the latter is fedforwardly by the pairs of feed rolls 5, 6. Each bearing is preferably ofthe anti-friction type. The upper bearing consists of an outer race 52seated in the wall of the body portion and held in place by a plate 54keyed to the edge engaging member 31 and having at its upper end a.collar which seats on the plate 53, anti-friction rollers 53' beingmounted between the races. The lower bearing consists of an inner race55 keyed to the edge engaging member 31 and having at its upper end acollar seated in a rabbeted portion formed in the bottom wall of theopening 5|, and an outer race 56 seated in the body portion of theadjacent device and held in position by a plate 51 suitably boltedthereto. The edge engaging member 31 is supported at its upper end onthe upper side of the device 36 and is removable endwise upwardly andalso adjustable endwise vertically for a purpose later set forth. Thesupporting means for each edging member consists of a screw 58, theinner end of which projects into a. groove 59 formed in the extended endof the edge. engaging member 31' to engage the walls of the groove. Thescrew 58 is mounted in a ring 60 which rests on the top of the innerrace 54. 'Ihe screw 58 may be locked in set position by a nut 58a.consists of a round section of material having bearing portions at itsopposite ends and therebetween the section is formed with a. pluralityof spaced grooves 6|, the walls of each of which have a predeterminedcross section and constitute an edging element to engage the adjacentside edge of the web A and up-set, roll it down or re-shape it,dependent upon the use of the sheet metal and the manner in which it isto be fabricated. The walls of each groove 6| may be similar in crosssection or each may have a cross section different from that of theother grooves and by adjustment of the .edge engaging member endwise,any one of the grooves 6| may be positioned in the plane in which theweb A feeds. To provide for such adjustment the upper end of the edgeengaging member is provided with a plurality of grooves 59 equal in'number to that of the edging elements 6| and correspondinglyv spaced, sothat by loosening the screw 58 and adjusting the edge engaging member toaline the selected groove 6| with the web and resetting the screw 58, inthe correspondingly related groove 59, the edge engaging member may berotatably mounted in the selected position. As will be 'understood fromFigs. 2 and 5, the Oppoi site edges of each web A are simultaneously en-Each edging member of or any two or more thereof may be adjusted'rsimultaneously, whereby the edge engaging members may be co-operativelypositioned, dependent upon the width of either or both of the strips orwebs A and changes in such widths from time to time. This mechanismconsists of the following: 62' indicates a threaded shaft rotatablymounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings 63 supported von andrearwardly of the frame 21, the free ends of the yshaft being shaped totake a tool, whereby it may be rotated in either direction. As shown inFig. 9, the/shaft 62 is provided with spaced collars B2b at one or bothends to engage the opposite sides of the bearing to prevent endwisemovement of the shaft. The shaft 62 may be threaded from end to endbetween its bearings 63, but is preferably threaded throughout thoseportions within the approximate maximum ranges of adjustment for thesupporting devices 36, respectively, as shown at 62a. 64 indicates anarm or extension preferably formed integrally with each supportingdevice 36 and extending rearwardly therefrom through the space betweenthe frame bars 32, 32a. Each arm 64 has secured to it by counter-sunkscrews 65a a plate 65, which is formed with a recess 66 to receive theadjacent threaded portion 62a. of the shaft 62. 61 indicates aconnecting device pivotally mounted at its inner end on the plate 65 andhaving on its inner face a recess 61a provided with screw threadsadapted to engage the adjacent threaded portion 62a of the shaft 62, sothat when the connecting device 61 is secured or clamped to the plate 65(see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9) and the screws 36 and 45 are backed up torelease the adjacent supporting device from the frame 21, rotation ofthe shaft 62 will effect adjustment of the adjacent supporting device 36to position the edge engaging member mounted therein in operativerelation to the web edge to be operated upon.

While the shaft 62 is common to all the supporting devices 36, theconnecting devices 61 for the latter are independently engaged with anddisengaged from the threaded portions 62a, re-

spectively, and accordingly any one of the supporting devices or anyselected two or more thereof may be adjusted upon rotation of the shaft62. The clamping means for each connecting device 61 consists of a stud68 threaded at its lower end into the plate 65 and extending upwardlythrough a slot formed in the connecting device 61 and a lever 69fulcrumed on the upper end of the stud and provided with a cam 10adapted to engage the connecting device 61 and swing it into engagementwith the plate 65, the cam' 10 having a at portion 10a which serves toremovably lock or clamp the device in operated position (see Fig. 9).When the lever 69 is swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.9, the connecting device 61 maybe swung upwardly from the plate 65, todisengage its screw threads from the adjacent threaded portion 62a. Toprovide for the automatic disconnection of the connecting device 61 fromthe adjacent threaded portion 62a, I form in the inner face of thedevice 61 recesses 1I in registry with the recesses in the plate 65 forthe heads of the screws- 65a and Vmount in these registering recessescoiled springs 12, which are compressed when the adjacent connectingdevice 61 is clamped to the plate 65; accordingly, upon operation of thelever 69 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the springs 12will swing the connecting device 61 upwardly to the position shown indotted lines, and thus disconnect the supporting device 36 from theshaft 62. The lever 69 is preferably bifurcated to straddle the stud 68,both freeedges of the bifurcations being provided with cam portions 10,10a, and engage a plate 1617 which is suitably secured to the device ateither side of the stud 68.

13 indicates an arm fixed to a pad 14 provided on each wall 42 at thefront end of the adjacent supporting device 36. The arms 13 ex-I tendover in front of the upper feed roll and each at its free end isprovided with a plate 15, removably secured thereto by bolts, such endof 61 and extends over the slot therein the arm and plate being recessedto form a throat and guide "I6 for the adjacent marginal edge of the webA between the guide rolls 23 and feed rolls 5. The side wall of eachthroat 16 is related to the edging elements 6| of the adjacent edgeengaging member 31, and as the arms 13 are fixed to the supportingdevices 36, transverse adjustment of the latter to position the edgeengaging members in co-operative relation for edging any predeterminedwidth of web A, may be determined by measuring the distance between sidewalls of the opposed throat 16; or by inserting a web in the opposedthroats and then adjusting the devices 36 to bring the side walls of thethroats into contact with the opposite edges of the web. The recessedportion of each arm 13 is.p rovided with a wear plate 11 fixed theretoby counter-sunk screws.

18 indicates upper and lower brackets disposed between each pair ofsupporting devices 36 and arranged to support in spaced relation shoes19 (preferably formed of wood) between which the adjacent web feeds. Theshoes 19 extend from a point forward of the edging members 31 to a pointrearward thereof to' support the web intermediate its `edges to preventbuckling thereof due to pressure of the edging devices upon the webedges. movable so that other shoes may be substituted dependent upon thewidth of the webs and adjustment of the supporting devices 36 as well asthe thickness of the sheet metal webs; but by preference the shoes areof a width to permit a limited `adjustment of the devices 36.

The bracket for the upper shoe 19 of each pair is adjustably andremovably secured to the bar A 32 by bolts 80 which extend through theopening 39 therein (see Fig. 4). The bracket for the lower shoe 19 ofeach pair extends through the space between the bars 32, 32a, and isprovided at its rear end with a depending lug 3l which is -adjustablyand removably secured to the bar 32a by a set screw 82.

83 indicates an auxiliary support for the webs bers 31. I

By providing in front of the forward feeding rolls web guides inlongitudinal alinement with the edging elements and supported by andmovable with the supporting devices 36, when the latter are adjusted,the guides may be utilized by the operative to accurately determine theamount of adjustment required and proper posi tion of each supportingdevice for any width of web, thereby permitting positioning of theedging members in a readyv manner.

It will be noted that in my construction the edging members 31 may be(a) adjusted endwise in their supporting devices to aline one edgingelement of one member with any one of the edging elements of the opposededging member or (b) entirely removed in a ready manner withoutdisassembly of any part of the apparatus, except loosening of the screw58. By reason of this fact and the ready adjustment of the supportingdevices separately or in multiple, the machine may be quickly ladaptedto different widths of webs.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention willsuggest themselves without departing from the spirit andscope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely fThe shoes 19 are re- A between the feed rolls 5 and edging mem'illustrative and not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What'I claim is: i 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the

-combination of a support relative to which sheet metal feeds, a pair ofsupporting devices mounted on said support, a rotatable edging membermounted in each device for adjustment endwise and formed with aplurality of edging elements each arranged to co-act with an edgingelement on the other member to engage the side edges of the sheet metal,and means between each said member and its supporting device forselectively engaging said member to dispose any one of said4 vedgingelement on the other member to engage the side edges of the sheet metal,means between each said member and its supporting device for selectivelyengaging said member to dispose any one of said edging elements thereonin operative position, a shaft mounted on saidfsupport and havingthreaded portions, a threaded element carried by each device andarranged to removably engage the threaded portion of said shaft, andmeans for operating each said threaded element.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support,a pair of driven rolls for feeding a web of sheet metal over saidsupport, a pair of supporting devices mounted on said support, arotatable edging member mounted in each device for adjustment endwiseand formed with a plurality of edgingelements each arranged to co-actwith an edging element on the other member to engage the side edges ofthe web, means between each said member and its supporting device forselectively engaging said member to 'dispose any one of said edgingelements thereon in operative position, an arm carried by each deviceand extending to a point in front of said feeding rolls, and guide meansfor the web on the outer end of each said arm.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support,a pair of driven rolls for feeding a web of sheet metal over saidsupport, a pair of supporting devices each movably mounted on saidsupport, a rotatable edging member mounted in each de'vicefand formedwith an edging element arranged to co-act with the edging element on theother member to engage the side edges of the web, a shaft mounted onsaid support and having threaded portions, .a threaded element carriedby each device and ,ar-

ranged to removably engage a threaded portion of said shaft, means foroperating each said threaded element, an arm carried by each device andextending to a point in front of said feeding rolls, and guide means forthe webuon the outer end of each said arm.

5. In Ian apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supportrelative to which a web of .sheet metal feeds and provided with spacedfront and rear transverse bars, a pair of supporting devices eachmovably mounted on said bars, means for removably securing said devicesto said bars, a rotatable edging member mounted in each device andformed with edging elements each arranged to co-act with an edgingelement on the other member to engage the side edges of the web, meansbetween each said member and its supporting device for selectively enof`sheet metal feeds, a frame mounted on said' support transversely of thefeed of the sheet metal, a pair of supporting devices each slidablymounted on said frame, a rotatable edging member mounted in each deviceand formed with an edging element arranged to co-act with the edgingelement on the other member to engage the side edges of the web, meansfor adjustably interlocking each member in a predetermined position tosaid frame, a shaft mounted on said support and common to said devices,and detachable connections between said shaft and each said supportingdevice whereby rotation of said shaft moves one or -both of said deviceson said frame.

7. In an apparatus of thev class described,`the combination of a supportrelative to which a web of sheet metal feeds, apair of supportingdevices mounted on said support and formed in its body portion with anopening, an edging member rotatably mounted in the upper and lower wallsof each device for adjustment endwise therein and extending through saidopening, that portion of said member within said opening being formedwith a plurality of edging elements each arranged to co-act with anedging element on the other member to engage the side edges of the web,andmeans between each said member and its supporting device forselectively engaging said member to dispose any one of the edgingelements thereon in a predetermined position.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supportrelative to which a web of sheet metal feeds, a frame transverselymounted on said support, pairs of supporting devices mounted on saidsupport and each formed in its body portion with an opening, an edgingmember rotatably mounted in the upper and lower walls of each device andextending through said opening, that portion of said member within saidopening being formed with an edging element arranged to co-act with theedging element on the other member to engage the side edges of the web,and operating means one element of which is common to said devices forselectively engaging one or more thereof for moving them along saidframe.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supportrelative to which a 'web of sheet metal feeds, a frame mounted on devicefor clamping the latter against `the adjacent bar, the body portion ofeach said device being formed with an opening, and an edging memberrotatably mounted in the upper and lower walls of each device andextending through said opening, that portion of said member within saidopening being formed with an edging element arranged to co-act with anedging element on the other member to engage the side edges of the web.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, apair of driven rolls on said support for feeding sheet metal thereover,a pair of supporting devices each mounted on said support rearward ofsaid feeding rolls for adjustment transversely to the feed of the sheetmetal, means for securing each device in a predetermined position, anedging member rotatably mounted in the walls of each said device andformed With an edging element arranged to coact with the edging elementon the other member to engage the side edges of the sheet metal, andguide means in front of said feed rolls for the sheet metal edges inalinement with the -edging elements on said members, each said guidemeans being supported by and movable with one of said supportingdevices. Y

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, apair of driven rolls on said support for feeding sheet metal thereover,a frame on said support rearward of said feeding rolls and comprisingspaced bars disposed transversely to the feed of the sheet metal, a pairof supporting devices each mounted at its front and rear ends on saidbars for adjustment transversely to the feed of the sheet metal, meansfor securing each device in a predetermined position, an edging memberrotatably mounted in the walls of each said device and formed with anedging element arranged to co-act with the edging element on the othermember to engage the side edges of the sheet metal, and guide means infront of said feed rolls for the sheet metal edges in alinement with theedging elements on said members, each said guide means being supportedby and movable with one of said supporting devices.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supportrelative to which a web of sheet metal feeds, a pair of supportingdevices mounted on said support and having upper and lower walls formedwith alined openings, bearings in said openings, an edging memberrotatably mounted in said bearings and removable upwardly therethrough,each said member extending upwardly beyond the upper wall of theadjacent device and formed with an annular groove, and a device carriedby each said upper wall and tting into the groove in the adjacent memberto removably support the latter for rotation in its said bearings.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supportrelative to which a web of sheet metal feeds, a pair of supportingdevices mounted on said support and having upper and lower walls formedwith alined openings, bearings in said openings, an edging memberrotatably mounted in said bearings and removable upwardly therethrough,that portion of said member between said upper and lower walls beingformed with a plurality of spaced edging elements each arranged toco-act with an edging element on the other member to engage the sideedges of the web, each said member extending upwardly beyond the upperwall of the adjacent device and formed with a plurality of grooves inspaced relation corresponding to the spacing of said edging elementsformed in said member, and a device carried by each said upper wall andselectively fitting into the grooves in the adjacent member forremovably supporting the latter in its said bearings.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said lockingdevices'is adjustably connected at its outer end to the adjacentsupporting device. l

CARL M. YODER.

